BEIJING — In a surprising twist to the ongoing trade tensions, a Chinese state-affiliated social media account suggested that the United States has quietly reached out to China to restart conversations about tariffs.
According to a post by Yuyuan Tantian, a popular account linked to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, the Trump administration is seeking a way back to the negotiation table. The account reported that “the United States has proactively reached out to China through multiple channels, hoping to hold discussions on the tariff issue,” citing unnamed sources.
This outreach seems to contradict public statements made by both governments in recent days. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said on Wednesday that he was unaware of any official discussions or consultations currently happening between Beijing and Washington regarding tariffs.
Adding to the confusion, former U.S. President Donald Trump recently told American media that talks with China are underway and even claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally called him. Beijing, however, firmly denied this, saying no such communication occurred and accusing the U.S. of misleading the public.
The back-and-forth highlights just how fragile and opaque the communication has become between the two global superpowers. While Washington might be trying to open the door quietly, Beijing appears to be holding its cards close — for now.
As the economic stakes remain high for both countries, the world is watching closely for signs of whether dialogue will replace discord — or if the silence will deepen.
